Summary: It's a moody Monday morning for Seth who is reeling from his feelings for Marissa and the outcome of their romantic evening at the office park.

Story Notes: This act is only two days after the last. It also includes Sandy and Ryan. This act is for some much needed comedy and also to showcase the changing dynamics between Seth and Ryan. Enjoy! -- You are being made aware that it's going to be a while before my next update. I've been fretting away on the next few acts as they are some of the more weightier and crucial acts to this series before I move forward. Please bare with me.

Story title comes from something, but I honestly can't remember what it is. I'm pretty sure it's from a Elizabeth Barrett Browning sonnet or poem. But I searched through my copy of Sonnets from the Portuguese and couldn't find the reference.

Rating: This is the whole reason why I rated the series a T. Some chat of masturbation and related sex talk.

Feedback Notes: The reviews has dwindled. I do miss them so. Please feedback as often as you can. I love to hear whatever you have to say.

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It was a dark night or two for Seth Cohen. After coming off what could have been one of the greatest moments of his post Summer life he became ill. His stomach turned into knots, his mind raced with fear. No, he never chucked up his dinner or had an extended vacation in the bathroom, but he wasn't himself. He wanted to be happy. Maybe even filled with joy. And for short spurts here and there he was. That was until he remembered a person by the name of Ryan. Wife beater wearing best friend -- oh who was he kidding -- brother, who knew how to lay the Chino smack down. It's not to say Seth believed Ryan would resort to manly violence if he ever knew the truth. But he still feared the outcome of Ryan discovering he was falling for Marissa, and yes, falling hard.

It had taken all of his own strength to finally muster the courage to kiss Marissa that night they got caught in the sprinklers. He had singled handedly played Marissa's hero, her knight in shinning armor. Ok, make that flawed night in shinning armor, Seth thought to himself. But he did rescue her from Julie's party.

Of course it didn't help, that at the moment where romance would have turned to epic love story, Marissa became tentative and muttered something about Ryan. Seth wanted to believe she was just concerned for his feelings. Maybe even Summer's too. But he feared the worst that she was still in love with him, that she wanted him back, or perhaps, just wanted to mack with him in the pool house. All of these thoughts circled through Seth's head. But Ryan's reaction was at the top of it all.

To say the least, Seth was frustrated. He couldn't be open with his feelings. He was sure to be tripping around Ryan. And he was left restless in the night with romantic fantasies that he knew would likely never come true.

He lied awake in bed torn about facing the new day. This was going to be one hectic morning. But he knew he could only hide under his bed sheets for so long. He exited out of bed and proceeded with his morning clean up.

Seth entered into the kitchen where he saw Ryan perched on a stool drinking coffee. Seth's hair was disheveled, a bit more than usual and he looked like he had operated on four hours of sleep.

For Seth, there were a few things that could always ease his mornings. A copy of the arts and entertainment section, a good brew of coffee and of course some fresh bagels. Maybe Seth was going blind because all three of those items seemed out of his view.

He frantically went about the kitchen. Ryan peered his head out from the papers he was reading and put down his coffee.

"God, can't a guy just get his morning rituals. Come on. I don't ask for much people," Seth was shouting as he trampled through the kitchen.

"Chill Man"

"Chill, oh I'll be chilling when I get my paper and coffee. And a damm bagel!"

Seth started to pace and spew out some random words. His eyes peered everywhere and his hands moved frantically about. Ryan paused, said nothing, and then slipped him the morning's copy of the Arts and Entertainment section. It rested just beside the rest of the paper, positioned right by Ryan.

Then Seth frantically went around looking for a half-decent bagel. Ryan turned to his side, brought down the paper from his face, and slid over the basket containing the bagels. It lay to his left side. Ryan remained silent and then returned to his paper.

Seth nodded, casually, never saying a single word to Ryan and then positioned himself back against the kitchen island trying to act as though things were cool. But they weren't. He still needed his coffee.

Ryan sensed his need for caffeine. He dropped the paper and went over to the coffee machine, which oddly enough, remained in the same place it had for the last ten years, and poured him a cup.

"Are you ok man," Ryan asked as he was obviously concerned by his behavior.

"Fine. Never better. Why ya asking Ryan?"

If one didn't know better they'd be thinking Seth was hyperventilating.

Ryan cocked his brows and turned back into his paper.

"So how did Julie's thing go?"

"What thing? There was a thing?"

"Seth?"

"I told you Ryan. I couldn't make it."

Ryan looked back confused.

"You sure? Because Kirsten told me that Comic-Con meeting was canceled and you went over to keep Marissa company."

"Ha, yeah that crazy mom of ours. Must have been knocking back a few of the drinkie drinkies," Seth said as he motioned a person drinking with his hands.

"Hey man, I know you're hanging with Marissa. It's common knowledge. It's cool," Ryan said and then paused as he again cocked a brow. "It's weird, but it's cool."

"Cool," Seth replied back as he tried to hide his nervousness.

He wasn't doing a very good job. He started to shake slightly and nervously twitched. Just then Sandy appeared from the corner and noticed his son's weird behavior.

"What's up with him," Sandy asked Ryan.

Sandy picked up a bagel and waited on his reply.

"I don't know. He's been like that all morning. I think he had way to much caffeine or drugs, or no, definitely caffeine."

"No, no. I don't think that's it. I know my son Ryan. He's either in love..."

Seth stopped in his tracks. His eyes bugged and his hand nervously ran through his hair. He then scoffed as though he was trying to dispel Sandy's comments.

"With who? The only girl he's around is Marissa," Ryan said.

"... Or he's sexual frustrated," Sandy said in a teasing tone.

Seth quickly covered his ears and started making noises.

"Oh dad, God. Do you have to talk about sex in front of Ryan too."

Both Ryan and Sandy stared at him as he continued to go on. When he felt it was safe Seth removed his hands and then took a large gulp from his coffee.

"Hmm. No. I've seen it. The hand cream bottle on his bed side-table. It's almost empty," Ryan said with a casual tone.

"Wow, hey, can't a guy just want soft, supple, hands," Seth replied back.

Ryan looked at him confused.

"Not unless your..."

"Metrosexual, hmm. Ryan admit it. We all have a little bit of metro in us," Seth chinned in. "And seriously, feel my hands!"

He dropped the upside of his hands down in front of Sandy, as he nervously stared in his father's eyes. Sandy decided to take the bait.

"They're soft. They're supple," Sandy said surprised as he briefly touched them

"There. Thank you," Seth replied back relieved his father believed him.

It wasn't as though he didn't dream of Marissa at night. And he couldn't say he never thought of her naked while he was in the shower. In fact that just happened this morning. They were these little random flashes. Whether it was her in her casuals, a short, slinky, dress, or nothing at all, the visions flashed in his head. But he was far too nervous and warn down to add the weight of having satisfied himself after having said thoughts. He would have been brought down with even more guilt than he had already. This boy wasn't getting any action from his overtly friendly right hand. To say he was sexually frustrated, well, it sugar coated his problem.

Sandy grabbed his briefcase and prepared to head out into the real world.

"Hey, son. No hanging at Marissa's place today," Sandy said as he thought back to Seth's weird morning behavior. "I feel it's my parental duty to limit the amount of time you spend around Julie Cooper. Plus we're having a family dinner tonight and you will be there. And that means you too Ryan."

"Theresa has the day off of work. She's got the kid all day. So, I'll be there."

Sandy came over to Seth and put his arm around him in a fatherly manor.

"Stay off the caffeine, and stay away from the Julie Cooper, will ya? It's wearing on your nerves."

Seth sighed and then nodded as though he agreed with is father. But the truth was Julie Cooper was a walk in the park compared to what he was dealing with. He didn't have it in himself to tell him he was really reeling from his emotions and feelings connected to Julie Cooper's daughter, Marissa. Well, the truth was, he didn't have it in him to say it in front of Ryan. He feared his reaction, and in a way he resented his brother because Marissa uttered his name. It was not a feeling he wanted to have.

Seth continued to pace the kitchen and talk to himself. Ryan took his last sip of coffee and turned to see Seth's continued behavior. He dropped his cup and then came up from his seat as though he was ready to leave.

Ryan tilted his eyes lids, coked his brow and then quietly, and slowly, walked away.